Hikers urged to know hunting seasons when out in the woods

Hikers using Iowa’s rural areas and woodlands are being warned to pay attention to hunting seasons. Iowa State University wildlife specialist, Jim Pease, says hikers should be aware that they’re sharing the outdoors with hunters who are required by law to wear blaze orange clothing.

“You can certainly go out during hunting season, but make sure you wear hunter orange as well. It protects you, it protects the hunters,” Pease explains. There’s one hunting season that raises a little more concern when it comes to sharing the woods.

“I probably wouldn’t go out if you’re not a hunter during shotgun deer season in the areas where there are shotgun deer being shot because those slugs go pretty far,” Pease says. He was making reference to the solid slugs hunters use in their guns to shoot the deer.

Those slugs travel farther than the smaller shot used in shells for hunting pheasants.